I just returned from scuba diving around Phuket, Thailand, Feb 13 -19.
There has been much discussion of conditions there in the wake of the
Dec 26th tsunami. I hoped to provide good overview with an extensive
photo album of over 300 shots. Here is the link to my album (on
Photoworks).
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareLanding.jsp?shareCode=A9662F1BAB3&c
b=PW
(If you have problems making this work automatically, check that your
link includes the album codes that follow the '?'.)
All photos are sized 4" by 6" at 400dpi in jpg format.
Those named anemone are at Anemone Reef.
Those named king are on the King Cruiser wreck.
Those named RachaNoi are from Racha Noi Island at North Point and
Banana Bay.
Those named colona are from a 4 day dive trip on the boat, Colona VI.
- colona 1 to 28 are from East of Eden in the Similan Islands
- colona 29 to 46 are from Barracuda Point in the Similans
- colona 27 to 55 are from North Point on Similan #9
- colona 56 to 61 are from Donald Duck Bay night dive Similan #8
- colona 62 to 77 are from Three Trees in Similan #9
- colona 78 to 98 are from Koh Bon West Ridge (2 dives)
- colona 99 to 115 are from Koh Tachi
- colona 116 to 194 are from Richelieu Rock
- colona 195 to 205 are from Elephant Head in the Similans
- colona 206 to 220 are from Boulder City in the Similans
There are some land photos from Patong, Chalong Bay and Karon Beach.
The purpose of the large album is to let you decide for yourself the
state of the reefs. I've been diving there every year for the last five
and didn't see any reef damage. In talking with several dive pros, they
said there are some areas where the accidents of geography and geometry
caused damage, but you won't see that if you do a normal dive trip to
the popular sites. I consider Phuket, Thailand the easiest and least
expensive exotic diving location to go to from the USA.
Here are some comments on the status of facilities ashore. In Patong
the floating pier has been repaired. If you take a liveaboard trip to
the Similan Islands you will transfer to the dive boat via long-tail
from this pier. Before the pier existed you entered the long-tail by
wading into the water from the beach. Also in Patong the beach is back
to normal and the beach road clear. Many of the beach road businesses
on the northern part of the beach are restored, but there is still a
lot of work to do in the southern end around the Holiday Inn. The water
didn't reach the second road parallel to the beach and businesses there
are normal and the cross streets in the north, including those with
most of the bars are operating. I'd say it's about two-thirds
operating.
Karon and Kata Beaches were virtually unaffected. I stayed in Karon.
You will find plenty of everything and a selection of hotels in all
price ranges at both locations.
In Chalong Bay, where the day diving boats depart, the old, wooden,
pier was destroyed. The new pier is fully operational (see photos).
There is a shuttle bus and gear pickup to take you to the end - it's
very long. That's included with day diving trips. The beach-front
businesses were open, but I did see a construction fence around a hotel
just east of the pier. Off the beach the town was unaffected.
I did my trip with Colona VI, a mid-priced liveaboard. It had been sold
out before the tsunami for my trip date, but we had 9 divers (capacity
14). with a few couples aboard, I as a single share diver had a room to
myself, always a nice bonus. It is a good boat and dive operation. I
recommend them. You can find boats for both more and less from
dormitory style to luxury.
I used Siam Dive 'n Sail ( http://www.siamdivers.com ) to handle my
booking for both the liveaboard and day-trip diving. I've used them for
several years. They can handle credit card payments for diving. I
recommend them too. There are other agents you can find with an
internet search and I'm sure others on the group here can offer their
experiences with them.
The Thai government has just waived the national park fees, 200 baht
per day, about $5, for diving in the Similans. The fee waiver is
through May 31st, the end of the good diving weather in Phuket.
Unfortunately this action took place after my trip.
I saw a whale shark on Richelieu Rock. They do visit each year, but
this was the first time in 5 years I've seen one there.
In summary, Phuket is open, the diving is great and the prices and the
number of visitors are like low season. If you can go in the next few
months you should find it a bargain. The aftermath of the tsunami will
not affect your visit, but, your visit can help Thailand recover from
the aftermath of the tsunami.
albe...@adelphia.net
Anyone who wishes to use one or more of my photos in a report about
diving conditions in Phuket can. Just give me photo credit (Photo by
Albert Schwartz) and, it would be appreciated if you sent me an e-mail
describing the use. The photos can be downloaded from Photoworks or I
will be happy to e-mail the full file to you on request.
--
alber...@adelphia.net
